Direction signal for motor vehicles



Jan. m, 1928.

ll. 13mins;

DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES mmm Filed NOV. 1925 INVENTOR 6. [TNES ATTORNEY li ntentad dun. It], 1928.

PATENT IRENE A. DAVIS, OF NEW'EllTRGrllii, lilIil'W DIRECTION" SIGNAL FOR MOTUHI VEHICLES.

Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in direction signals for motor vehicles.

The primary object of the invention resides in a means for visibly indicating to perll sons in approaching vehicles, the direction of turn of another vehicle before the driver of the vehicle begins to make the turn, where by ample warning is given to the drivers oi other vehicles and pedestrians oi the course to be taken without any misunderstanding.

ltnother object of the invention is to provide a signal for indicating right and left turns and which includes a movable hand adapted to attract the attention :15 a driver of an approaching vehicle when moved from a nonindicating position to an indicating position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a directional indicator which includes a hand mounted on a vertical axis and being normally disposed. parallel to the length oil.

the automobile on which it is mounted, so as to he unseen by persons at the front and rear,

but which hand may be manually moved to an indicating position at right angle to its normal position to indicate a right or left turn and which is clearly visible from the trout and rear.

A still further object of the invention, is to provide an indicating hand which is automatically illuminated so as to be vis1ble at night.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construci i tion and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing" in which r Figure l is a perspective view of my improved directional indicator in position upon motor vehicle and showing the same in an indicating position.

Figure 52; is a verticle sectional view on the line 2-.2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the switch.

Figure 4t is a diagrammatic view of the electric light circuit.

Figure 5 is a top plan view oi the signal per set Referring more particularly to the drawing the reference numeral designates my on improved direction signal in its entirety and llll 19, 1926. Serial. No. 149,423.

which includes a tubular braclret 11 mounted on the left side of a motor vehicle 12 as at 1?), forward of the front seat and which bracket is otlset to dispose the indicating hand. it outward. tlrom the side of the vehicle. indicating hand 14B is turnably mounted on the top end of the braclret by providing the casing 15 oil. the hand with a sleeve 16, which sleeve fits over the bracket and serves as a vertical axis on which the hand may be turned to either indicating positions or to a neutral position parallel with the length oi the vehicle.

The indicating hand l4]: as hereinbeitore mentioned includes a hollow casing 155 hav ing translucent or red color glass windows 17 on opposite sides thereof and oi a shape indicative oil a human hand with the index linger in pointing position. The top of the tubular bracket provided in an electric light socket 153 lior supporting an electric light bulb it? for the purpose of illuminating the hand when in an indicating position. The electric wires 20 from the soclrct extend through the tubular braclrct to electric switches 21 and 92 mounted in a bloclr 23 set in the dash board 241 of the motor vehicle and disposed forward oi the drivers seat for respectively ligh ing the electric light bulb 19 upon movement of the control lever 25 to either of a pair ot notches Q6 and ill. The switches are in the nature oi push buttons and are respectively mounted in the notches 26 and 27 and, which close electric circuits as the hand is moved to either a right or letlt indicating position. The lever 25 is tiltable to disengage it from the notches in order to permit the lever to be set in neutral notch interposed midway between notches 26 and 27.

For actuating he indicating hand l la I pivotally mount the lever 5 tier horizontal and slight vertical movement as at ill, and which lever extends 'lorward beneath the hood of the vehicle. so to swing on a horizontal plane. The forward end oi the lever is pivotally connected to one end ot a link 39 while the other end of the link is pivotally connected to the casing oi the indicating hand as at lhe electric circuit receives its source oi energy from the storage battery 34. oil the motor vehicle and normally the lamp disposed within the indicator is out with the hand parallel to the length at the vehicle. For moving the hand to an The lllll indicating position to indicate either a right or left turn, the free' end of the lever 25 is grasped by the hand of an operator and depressed and swung out ofthe neutral notch and intoeither of the notches 26 and 27, depending upon the direction of the turn. When alettturn, the lever will be moved into engagement by the notch 26 Whilethe lever WiIlF-be moved into engagement by the notch 27 for a right turn. Upon movingvthelever to the desired notch, the indicatoril l' is'swung to a point in the direction on the intended turn, and asthe lever. seatsrin the selected notch, the spring 29 pushes the lever into engagement with the push'button or switch, thereby closing the electric circuit 28 and lighting the lamp Within the indicator. Theind-icator'hand is now at right angleto its normal position and may readily be seen from the=front and rear by drivers of approaching vehicles, The movement of the hand to an indicating position serves to attract the attention. of drivers of approachingvehiclesand also pedestrians, thereby foreiva-rnin them of the direction of the intended turn. y reasonrof-the electric light Within the indicating hand l t, the out line of the hand is clearly visible at niglu.

What is claimed as new is A directional indicator for motor vehicles comprising. an indicating element turnably mounted on a vertical axis, said indicating element bein normally disposed in a neutral position parallel to the length of the vehicle on which it is adapted to be mounted, and actuating means for 1noving said indicating element to positions at right aiwles to its normal position to indicate rig it and left turns of the vehicle. said :means including a manipulating lever pivotally mounted bet-ween its ends for horiaontal swinging and vertical rocking: move ment; and a link having its ends ]')ivotally connected respectively to one end of said lcver :and to said indicating element, and means for automatically locking said actuating lever in its set positions upon its manual move- .inent thereto.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

IRENE A. DAVIS. 

